Day two of the KIA Cold Hawaii PWA World Cup started in the pitch black as the competitors and race crew congregated at the Cold Hawaii club house at 6am. The early start didn’t pay off as the forecast that promised wind from first light failed to materialize due to the offshore direction. After seven and a half painstaking hours the wind finally followed forecast as it swung cross-off shore allowing the competition to begin shortly afterwards, in perfect, peeling down the line waves – half mast to logo high – and light to medium winds, which saw two waves to count over the duration of 18 minute heats.
Albert Pijoan with a good performance in the trials
TRIALS
Heat A of the trials witnessed Moritz Mauch, Lars Gobisch, Tuomo Naalisvaara and Christopher Friis all battling it out against each other for the top two positions to qualify for the main draw. After two cancellations the heat was finally completed on the third attempt as Mauch came out on top followed by Gobisch, with Mauch in particular impressing with his dynamic wave riding.
Heat B saw only three sailors competing after Stefan Gobisch had to withdraw through injury. Albert Pijoan showed excellent wave selection and execution to win the heat ahead of Markus Rydberg and Fabian Weber was left disappointed.
In the final qualifying heat C Peter Volwater comfortably qualified for the main draw as the Dutchman demonstrated why he finished ninth overall here last year. Grabbing the final qualifying spot in the draw was Robert Baldyga, who linked together several aggressive frontside hacks to see off the competition of Michael Kleingarn.
SINGLE ELIMINATION
Just one valid heat got completed in the main fleet.
Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne looked in superb form today after he confidently dispatched of Mads Bjornaa in the opening round. The Brazilian showed his class as he consistently connected aggressive frontside gauges to progress. On the B-side of the panel Moritz Mauch achieved the biggest win of his career so far as he managed to defeat Dany Bruch. The seventeen year old showed maturity beyond his years as he picked out the best waves on offer, before taking full advantage of them as he delivered fluid, aggressive cut backs to advance by 0.75 points. Mauch will now face Browne in the last sixteen. Mauch already qualified on Tenrife through the trials for the main event, but lost in round 1. Mauch won both the youth events on Gran Canaria and Tenerife this season.
Moritz Mauch with a lot of style
Heat two did begin for the second time shortly before 7pm as a squall approached, but unfortunately the wind didn’t last long enough in order to be completed, meaning that John Skye, Antoine Martin, Victor Fernandez and Lars Gobisch will be the first heat to be sailed when the contest resumes. Martin will be a little disappointed that the suitable conditions didn’t last after he pulled off a fantastic Goiter.
Marcilio Browne on fire during his first round heat
Antoine Martin on a high level
©PWA worldtour 2013/Carter
